Taarof
Persian politeness runs on offering, refusing and insisting. A shopkeeper or driver may say قابلی نداره (qābeli nadāre, it's nothing) when you ask the price. It's courtesy, not a gift: insist politely, then pay.
Persian course · 27 languages in one app
Learn Persian by speaking it
Persian is the language of Rumi and Hafez and of everyday life in Tehran, and it's friendlier to beginners than it looks: there's no grammatical gender at all. Talvo teaches it in Persian script with romanization alongside, with a tutor that waits for your answer out loud.
First lesson free · iPhone and Mac, one subscription
Persian · First phrasesسلام
salām
Hello
Driverکجا تشریف می‌برید؟Where are you headed?
Your first Persian phrases
Twelve phrases in the Persian spoken in Tehran, polite enough for anyone you meet.
| Persian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| سلام | salām | Hello |
| حال شما چطوره؟ | hāl-e shomā chetore? | How are you?Polite |
| خوبم، ممنون | khubam, mamnun | I'm fine, thanks |
| اسمم سامه | esmam Sāme | My name is Sam |
| خوشبختم | khoshbakhtam | Nice to meet you |
| مرسی / ممنون | mersi / mamnun | Thanks |
| خواهش می‌کنم | khāhesh mikonam | You're welcome / Please |
| ببخشید | bebakhshid | Excuse me / Sorry |
| این چنده؟ | in chande? | How much is this? |
| دستشویی کجاست؟ | dastshuyi kojāst? | Where's the restroom? |
| متوجه نشدم | motevajjeh nashodam | I didn't understand |
| لطفاً آهسته‌تر صحبت کنید | lotfan āheste-tar sohbat konid | Please speak more slowly |
ā is a long, rounded a, close to the aw in law. kh is the ch of Scottish loch. Spoken Persian shortens many words, so chetor ast (how is) becomes chetore.
A conversation you'll practice
A taxi ride in Tehran, including the moment every visitor meets: taarof. The tutor plays the driver.
Driverکجا تشریف می‌برید؟kojā tashrif mibarid?Where are you headed?
Youمیدان آزادی، لطفاً.meydān-e āzādi, lotfan.Azadi Square, please.
Driverچشم.cheshm.Of course. (Literally “eye”: a very polite yes.)
Youچقدر می‌شه؟cheqadr mishe?How much is it?
Driverقابلی نداره!qābeli nadāre!It's nothing, be my guest!
Culture noteThis is taarof, Persian ritual politeness. The driver doesn't expect a free ride. Insist politely and he'll tell you the price.
Youنه، خواهش می‌کنم. چقدر شد؟na, khāhesh mikonam. cheqadr shod?No, please. How much was it?
Things that surprise new learners
The little e that links words
Called ezāfe, it joins a noun to whatever describes or owns it: کتابِ من (ketāb-e man, my book), شهرِ بزرگ (shahr-e bozorg, a big city). It's usually not written, so you learn to hear it.
Written and spoken Persian
Books say می‌روم (miravam, I go); people in Tehran say می‌رم (miram). Talvo teaches standard Tehran Persian and points out the spoken forms you'll hear.
Arabic letters, plus four
Persian uses the Arabic alphabet plus پ (p), چ (ch), ژ (zh) and گ (g), written right to left and usually without short vowels.
How Talvo teaches Persian
- Standard Tehran Persian, with the colloquial forms you'll hear pointed out
- Persian script with romanization, and romanized answers are accepted while you learn the alphabet
- Every unit, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1), is written around your interests and the words you already know
- Role-play a café, a market, a taxi or meeting someone new. The tutor speaks first, waits for your answer and corrects you with the reason
- Use the live interpreter when you're talking with a native speaker for real
- Every new word goes into your review deck and comes back right before you'd forget it
Questions about learning Persian
Is Persian the same as Farsi?
Yes. Farsi is the language's own name for itself, and Persian is its English name. Talvo teaches the Persian of Iran, as spoken in Tehran.
Do I need to learn the alphabet first?
No. Every phrase shows romanization alongside the Persian script, and you can answer in romanization while you learn the letters.
Can I learn Persian with Talvo for free?
Yes, to start. Your first lesson, three live-interpreter exchanges, your reviews and your deck are free. Talvo Pro unlocks unlimited lessons and conversations, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
Can I use Talvo on my Mac?
Yes. Talvo is a native app for iPhone and Mac, and one subscription covers both.
More language guides
Say your first Persian sentence today.
The first lesson is free. It takes about five minutes.